Weaving loom



Feb. 16, 1965 w. E. NISPERLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WALTER E. NISPERLY BY BLLLJ'MQBVITZ. FRWKFQQQ,

Kuhn '6 KAV i ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 16, 1965 w. E. NISPERLY 3,159,553

WEAVING LOOM Filed May 24, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WALTER E. NISPERLY Feb. 16, 1965 w. E. NISPERLY WEAVING LOOM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 24, 1963 INVENTOR WALTER E. NISPERLY BUM M \bStm/UZ Prue-wank. 61AM Feb, 16, 1965 w. E. NISPERLY WEAVING LOOM Filed May 24, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG 9 INVENTOR WALTER E. NISPERLY BY BLQWM moguovllz Fmewmmu, 'BLum United States Patent 3,169,553 WEAVING LOOM Walter E. Nisperly, Glendale, W. Va., assignor to Louis Marx & Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of a New York Filed May 24, 1963, Ser. No. 282,997 3 Claims. (Cl. 13933) operated'with a minimum of instruction, even by relatively young children, and which produces many varieties, styles and types of cloth and fabric articles.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a loom ofithe type described which embodies unique improvements in harness-frame, reed and heddle construction to greatly simplify loom operation.

It is still another object of the present invention to pro vide a loom construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is extremely simple in structure, durable and entirely reliable throughout a long useful life, and which is capable of economic manufacture for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which Will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view showing a loom constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, and illustrating the loom in an early stage of its operative condition;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the loom of FIGURE 1, showing the harness frame in phantom in an alternate position of operation; 7

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the instant loom, similar to FIGURE 1, but illustrating a later stage in the operation;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the instant loom as shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 55 of FIGURE 1, and partly broken away; 7

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 6- -6 of FIGURE 5, and showing the heddle mechanisms in an intermediate operative condition;

FIGURE 7 is a partial elevational View similar to FIGURE 6 but showing the heddle mechanisms in one extreme condition of operation;

FIGURE 8 is a partial sectional View similar to FIG- URE 7 but showing the heddle mechanisms in an opposite extreme condition of operation; and

FIGURE 9 is a partial sectional elevational view similar to FIGURE 5 but showing the heddle mechanism in its condition of FIGURE 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 14 thereof, the loom is there generally designated 1%, and includes an open framework 11 having mounted therein a harness frame'12. The harness frame 12 is movable back and forth within the framework 11, as between the solid and phantom positions of FIGURE 2.

The framework 11 may include a substructure or base 3,169,553 Fatented Feb. 1d, 1965 adapted to rest on a suitable generally horizontal supporting surface. The substructure or base 15"may include a pair of generally parallel, longitudinally extending, spaced sidepieces 16, and a pair of generally parallel, spaced endpieces 17 extending between adjacent ends of the sidepieces 16. The underside of the substructure or base 15 may be provided with suitable feet or pads 18 for engagement with a nether support. Upstanding from the corners of the base 15 are provided corner posts or uprights 19.

Extending laterally of the framework 11 between the upper ends of the posts 19 at each endpiece of base 15 is an upper or elevated end member 20. An upper or elevated side member 21 extends longitudinally of the framework 11' between the upper ends of the post 19. Thus, the end members 20 and side members 21 define elevated ends and sides of the framework 11.

As illustrated, the elements 16, 17, 19, 20 and 21 of the framework 11 may be of channellike construction, or otherwise, as desired, it being only essential that the framework be relatively rigid in its illustrated, assembled condition. In practice, it is preferred that the framework elements be fabricated of plastic and suitably detachably secured together to permit of storage and shipment in knocked-down condition.

The lower sidepieces 1d are each provided with a plurality of pivot elements or pins 24 disposed generally horizontally and projecting laterally inward of the framework. The several pivot elements or pins 24 of the opposite sidepieces 16 are arranged in respective aligned pairs, and may be equally spaced apart at numbered locations indicated by the numeral indicia shown in FIG- URE 2. The upper side members or elevated sides 21 may have their major intermediate regions offset downwardly, as at 25, see FIGURE 2, and their end regions 26 extending obliquely upward to the level of end members 20. The elevated ends or end members 20 are each provided with a series of spaced upstanding fingers or teeth 27 arranged in a row extending across the major part of each elevated end member between the elevated side members 21. The laterally arranged array of teeth 27 upstanding from each elevated end or end member 20 may be formed of a single sheet or plate provided with a plurality of regularly spaced, upwardly opening notches 28, certain or all of which may be of an inverted keyholeslot configuration, as at 29 in FIGURE 5, for a purpose appearing presently.

The harness frame 12 which includes reed structure 35 may be of an open construction, including a pair of laterally spaced, generally upstanding sidepieces 30 rigidly connected together by any suitable means, such as a channellike lower crosspiece 31 adjacent to and spaced above the lower ends of the sidepieces. Each sidepiece 3% is formed at its lower end with an upwardly or inwardly extending slot 32 adapted to slidably receive a respective pin 24 and define a mating pivot element therefor. The harness frame 12 is thus adapted to be mounted in the framework 11, extending laterally thereacross, with the pivot elements or slots 32 receiving an opposed, aligned pair of pins 24 to mount the harness frame for swinging movement about the aligned axis of the received pins back and forth toward opposite ends 20. The harness frame may, of course, be mounted for this back-and-forth movement on any selected pair of aligned pins 24 to properly locate the harness frame along the framework 11.

The harness frame sidepieces 30 extend upward beyond the elevated side members 21, and may each be provided intermediate its ends with an outstanding lug or stop boss 33 located over and adapted for limiting engagement with the upper side of an adjacent side member 21. Thus, the laterally outstanding lugs or bosses 33 are engageable with the upper. sides of respective adjacent side members 21 to limit swinging movement of the harness frame 12.

Extending laterally betweenand rigidly secured to the harness frame sidepieces is a reed, comb or beater 35, wmch further serves to rigidify the harness frame. The reed or comb includeslower portion 36 extending continuously between the inner sides of harness frame sidepieces 30, and upstanding therefrom is a series of teeth 37. Thus, the teeth 37 are arranged in a row extending between the harness frame sidepieces 39, with each pair of adjacent teeth spaced by an intermediate, upwardly opening notch 38. The reed or beater 35 is generally in the same region of elevation as the framework side members 21 and end members 20.-

On each side of the reed 35 is a heddle mechanism 40. Each heddle mechanism 4t) includes a lower plate region 41 extending laterally across the harness frame 12 between the harness frame sidepieces 3t and a plurality of laterally spaced heddle elements or fingers 42 upstanding from the upper edge of each plate element 41. Thus, it will be appreciated that the heddle mechanisms are each disposed in facing relation with respectively opposite faces of the reed 35.

Spaced below the reed 35 and extending laterally between the harness frame sidepieces 3'9 is a crossbar 43. Carried on the underside of the crossbar 43 may be one or more rest pieces 44 projecting beyond opposite sides of the crossbar and defining therewith a pair of upwardly facing shoulders 45. In addition, pairs of generally vertical, parallel spaced rails 45 extend between the lower edge of reed 35 and upper side of crossbar 43. Certain of these pairs of vertical rails 46 may be adjacent to one heddle mechanism 4t) and spaced from the other, while the remainder of these pairs of rails may be adjacent to the other heddle mechanism and spaced from the first-mentioned heddle mechanism. Each heddle mechanism 40 is provided with a plurality of T-shaped retaining heads 47 slidably engaged through and retained by a respective pair of rails 46, see FIGURE 9. In this manner the heddle mechanisms 40- are each mounted for vertical or up-anddown movement in facing relation with respective opposite sides or faces of the reed 35, the shoulders 45 limiting downward movement of the heddle mechanisms.

As may be seen in FIGURES 5 and 9, the heddle elements or fingers 42 of each heddle mechanism 45 are upstanding in overlapping alignment with a respective intertooth space or notch 33 of the reed 35. Further, successive fingers 42 of each heddle mechanism may be aligned with alternate spaces or notches 38 and the fingers 42are movable vertically upward relative to the harness frame 12 into partially closing or overlying relation with the respective aligned notch 33. That is, each heddle mechanism 40 is movable from its lowermost position of FIG- URE 5 upward to an upper position of FIGURE 9, closing the lower region of the aligned notch 38. The upper edges of the heddle elements or fingers 42 may be recessed or grooved, as at 49. As appears best in FIGURES 68,

the heddle elements or fingers 42 of one heddle mechanism 48 are in alignment with one group of alternate reed notches 38, while the heddle elements or fingers of the other heddle mechanism are in alignment with the other group or remaining notches 38. Thus, upon elevation of one heddle mechanism 40, one group of alternate warp threads are raised or shed, and the remaining warp threads are raised or shed upon elevation of the other heddle mechanism.

A heddle-operating mechanism is generally designated 50 and includes a bar or shaft 51 extending laterally of the framework 11 between the upper ends of opposite heddle frame sidepieces 30, to which it is pivotally connected by pins 52. Thus, the shaft or bar 51 is mounted in the harness frame 30 for rotation about an axis extending laterally of the framework 11. The shaft or bar 51 may be of channellike configuration, as seen in FIGURES 7 and 8, and provided medially with a transverse handle 52.

At each end of the shaft or bar 51, adjacent to each harness frame sidepiece 30, there are provided a pair of oppositely projecting levers or arms 53, while a stop member 54 may be fixed to each harness frame sidepiece 3% in position for limiting engagement with an adjacent arm 53. The respective stop members. 54are located so as to limit rotation of the shaft 51 in both directions, thereby limiting the arms 53 to an up-and-down rocking movement upon oscillation of the shaft 51. i

The outer or distal'ends of the arms 53 are each connected to the adjacent nether heddle mechanism 49 by a connection member or rod 56. That is, each connection member or rod'56 has its upper end pivotally connected, as by a pin 57, to the distal end of a respective arm 53, and depends therefrom for sliding extension through an apertured lug 58-provided on the adjacent heddle mechanism. More specifically, the lower region 59 of each connection rod 56 is offset inwardly toward.

the adjacent nether heddle mechanism 49, extending slid: ably through a respective apertured lug 58 of the adjacent heddle mechanism, and has its lower terminal portion 60 bent to engage the underside of the receiving lug. Thus, upon swinging movement of the rockable heddle-actuating mechanism 56 to raise the rightward rocker arms 53, as seen in FIGURE 8, the terminal regions 60 of the rightward connection rods 56 engage their respective lugs 58 to raise the rightward heddle mechanism 40. Simultaneously, the leftward heddle mechanism 40 rests upon the nether supporting shoulder 45 and its apertured lugs 53 slidably receive the lower inwardly offset rod regions 59 of the leftward connection rods 56. Of course, rocking motion of the actuating means 5% to its other extreme position, as. shown in FIGURE 7, effects raising of the leftward heddle mechanism and lowering of the rightward heddle mechanism.

In addition, a crossbar may be removably and adjustably seated on and in bridging relation between the elevated framework sides 21, see FIGURES 3 and 4. The crossbar 65 thus extends laterally across the frame work 11 and'includes a generally horizontal superposed platform 66. Beneath the platform 66, the crossbar 65 is provided at several locations with upstanding apertured lugs 67, each having its aperture opening toward opposite ends of the framework and in alignment with a pair of aligned keyhole shaped slots or notches 29 at opposite ends 20. In alignment with each apertured lug the crossbar 65 may be formed with a cutout or notch 68.

Removably associated with the crossbar65 may be a pair of temple rods 76, as best seen in FIGURES 3, 4 and 6. The rods '74 may be substantially straight throughout their entire length, except for a stepped configuration 71 at one end. The stepped configuration is adapted to removably engage in an apertured lug 67 and adjacent notch 68 of the crossbar 65, in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5, with the remainder of the rod 70 extending through and beyond the reed 35;

In operation, warp threads are extended between the framework end members 2%), being retained thereat by the upstanding teeth or fingers 27. More specifically, the warp threads pass through the interteeth slots 28 and about the teeth for retention thereby. The warp threads 75 also extend through the harness-frame 12, being each received in a respective reed slot or notch 38.

The number of warp threads thus employed is determined by the desired width of the fabric to be woven. For inexperienced operators the laterally outermost warp threads are engaged through selected inverted keyholeshaped slots 29, the arrangement thereof providing a variety of widths, such as two, four, eight and ten inches. The temple rods or wires 79 may then each be inserted through a respective laterally outermost warpthread receiving slot 29, extending along the adjacent warp thread and through the aligned reed slot or notch In this condition, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the temple rods 70 are maintained in their parallel relationship at a lateral spacing equal to that of the fabric to be woven. The temple rods serve to maintain the desired width of fabric during weaving, even by an inexperienced operator, as will appear presently, and may not be required by a more experienced operator.

The harness frame 12 may be initially located adjacent to one end of the framework, say the righthand end in FIGURES 1 and 2, being rotatably mounted on the aligned pins 24 indicated by numeral 1.

The heddle-operating means 50 is then alternately rocked to raise or shed alternate warp threads, during which an operator passes the weft or filler threads 76 through the shed. For this purpose, a shuttle, as at 77, may have weft thread wound thereabout and may be passed through the shed and the weft thread unwound from the shuttle as required. In addition, rotation of the harness frame 12 about its axis of pivotal mounting is effected to perform beating of the weft. As the cloth is woven, the harness frame 12 may be successively mounted on more leftward aligned pins 24.

As weaving progresses, at an intermediate stage thereof, the temple rods 70 may be withdrawn from their position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The crossbar 65 may then be arranged in its bridging relation of FIGURES 3 and 4, seated on the side members 21 over the fabric Woven thus far; and the temple rods may be replaced with their stepped ends engaged in respective lugs 67 and notches 68 along the laterally outer warp threads, with the straight ends of the rods engaged through the lower enlarged regions of aligned slots 29. Weaving, as described hereinbefore, may then continue with the width of woven fabric maintained constant by the temple rods. The harness frame and crossbar are repositioned as necessary to complete the weaving operation.

Of course, as an operator becomes more proficient and better able to judge the desirable tautness of the weft, the use of the temple rods may be eliminated entirely. Without the temple rods a cloth of any desired width may be woven, without limitation to the locations provided for holding the temple rods.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a loom construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, distribution and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy loom comprising an open framework having a base and elevated side and end members on said base, warp holding means at opposite ends of said framework, an open frame disposed laterally in said framework and upstanding therefrom for receiving warp threads, mounting means mounting said frame for back-and-forth movement toward opposite end members, a reed carried by said frame for movement therewith and extending thereacross, said reed comprising a plurality of laterally spaced vertically projecting teeth connected to a common base,

the facing surfaces of adjacent pairs of said teeth defining upwardly opening notches for respective reception of warp threads, a heddle frame carried by said frame in facing relation with one side of said reed and mounted for movement with said frame and up-and-down movement relative to said frame and reed, said heddle frame comprising a plurality of vertically projecting fingers aligned with certain respective notches and normally spaced below said common base, whereby said heddle frame is adapted to shed upon movement relative to said frame and reed, and said reed is adapted to beat upon movement with said frame, and a second heddle frame carried by said frame in facing relation with the other side of said reed and mounted for movement with said frame and up-anddown movement relative to said frame and reed, said second heddle frame comprising a plurality of vertically projecting fingers aligned with other respective notches and normally spaced below said common base, whereby said second heddle frameis adapted to shed upon movement relative to said frame and reed.

2. A toy loom according to claim 1, in combination with a temple bar extending laterally across said framework between said side members and selectively positionable longitudinally therealong, and temple rods extending from selected positions on said temple bar through selected ones of said notches in said reed on opposite sides of the warp to prevent narrowing of the cloth.

3. In a toy loom, the improvement comprising an open frame, a reed fixedly mounted in said open frame extending laterally thereacross, said reed comprising a plurality of laterally spaced vertically projecting teeth connected to a common base, the facing surfaces of adjacent pairs of said teeth defining upwardly opening notches, a heddle frame, including a plurality of heddles mounted in said open frame in facing relation with one side of said reed for up-and-down movement relative to said reed, a rocker arm pivotally carried by an upper region of said open frame, connection means connected between said arm and heddle frame for effecting up-and-down movement of the latter upon pivotal movement of said rocker arm, and a second heddle frame, including a plurality of heddles mounted in said open frame in facing relation with the other side of said reed for up-and-down movement relative to said reed, a second rocker arm pivotally carried by an upper region of said open frame, and second connection means connected between said second arm and second heddle frame for effecting up-and-down movement of the latter upon pivotal movement of said second rocker arm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 273,333 3/83 Wright 139-33 803,207 10/05 Winkler et a1. 139--33 829,474 8/06 Hooper 13933 2,582,008 1/52 Clack 139-29 2,920,658 1/60 Hoffman 13933 FOREIGN PATENTS 568,623 1/33 Germany. 502,288 3/39 Great Britain.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TOY LOOM COMPRISING AN OPEN FRAMEWORK HAVING A BASE AND ELEVATED SIDE AND END MEMBERS ON SAID BASE, WARP HOLDING MEANS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID FRAMEWORK, AN OPEN FRAME DISPOSED LATERALLY IN SAID FRAMEWORK AND UPSTANDING THEREFROM FOR RECEIVING WARP THREADS, MOUNTING MEANS MOUNTING SAID FRAME FOR BACK-AND-FORTH MOVEMENT TOWARD OPPOSITE END MEMBERS, A REED CARRIED BY SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH AND EXTENDING THEREACROSS, SAID REED COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACED VERTICALLY PROJECTING TEETH CONNECTED TO A COMMON BASE, THE FACING SURFACES OF ADJACENT PAIRS OF SAID TEETH DEFINING UPWARDLY OPEN NOTCHES FOR RESPECTIVE RECEPTION OF WARP THREADS, A HEDDLE FRAME CARRIED BY SAID FRAME DEFINFACING RELATION WITH ONE SIDE OF SAID REED AND MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT WITH SAID FRAME AND UP-AND-DOWN MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME AND REED, SAID HEDDLE FRAME COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY PROJECTING FINGERS ALIGNED WITH CERTAIN RESPECTIVE NOTCHES AND NORMALLY SPACED BELOW SAID COMMON BASE, WHEREBY SAID HEDDLE FRAME IS ADAPTED TO SHED UPON MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME AND REED, AND SAID REED IS ADAPTED TO BEAT UPON MOVEMENT WITH SAID FRAME, AND A SECOND HEDDLE FRAME CARRIED BY SAID FRAME IN FACING RELATION WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID REED AND MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT WITH SAID FRAME AND UP-AND-DOWN MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME AND REED, SAID SECOND HEDDLE FRAME COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY PROJECTING FINGERS ALIGNED WITH OTHER RESPECTIVE NOTCHES AND NORMALLY SPACED BELOW SAID COMMON BASE, WHEREBY SAID SECOND HEDDLE FRAME IS ADAPTED TO SHED UPON MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME AND REED. 